Shillong: Daniel Nongrum, well known for his promising roles in the movie, Ngan Wad Haban Da Shem (2008), Adona (2009) and Junom (2011) returns to the screen in the movie Haban Tony.
Daniel said he was on hiatus for nearly four years because he did not get good scripts that define him and highlight his acting skills. “The scripts that came to me did not touch my heart,” says Daniel. In Haban Tony, Daniel plays the lead role apart from being the director and producer of the film.
The female actors include Sweety Angelirie Kharumnuid, Wanri Pyngrope and Theo Rynjah. Favian Sawkmie plays the role of villain while Basharboy Nongrum, Gabriel T Mawlong and Maxilan Rumnong play supporting roles.
This movie is a tale of two brothers and their journey in life. It’s about friendship and its unbreakable bonds. Daniel says, this film will awaken the humanity in each one of us. “The promo of this movie has touched the hearts of people who saw it in social networking sites like Facebook, YouTube, etc. It is also being screened at the beginning of the movie “Sa Shisein” at Bijou Cinema,” Daniel informed.
Daniel Nongrum says he wanted to make this movie since 2010 but since the budget was prohibitive he had to keep it on hold and made the movie Junom instead in 2011.
The budget for Junom was Rs 5.5 lakhs excluding the payment to artists. After Junom did well in the theatres and with his family’s help he began to work on the music for the Haban Tony in 2014 and started shooting in February 2015.
“I wanted to be an actor since I was 9-years-old and in Class 3. My parents had taken me to Anjalee cinema to watch the movie Ka Mon Bajwat. It was the year 1998. I remember we couldn’t get tickets for balcony so we sat in the front row near the screen. When the song Pynsawang came on screen I got up and danced without any hesitation. My parents were a bit embarrassed and tried to restrain me but I was unputdowntable. Ten years later in 2008 I got a chance to play the lead role in the movie Ngan Wad Haban Da Shem. When the renowned artiste and Khasi Film maker, Rana Kharkongor saw my performance in the movie he called me to act in his movie Adona in 2009. After Adona, with the support given by my family I started my own production house, Daniel Nongrum Films Production. It was here that I got a chance to produce my own movie Junom in 2011,” Daniel stated.
The production cost of Haban Tony is Rs 8.80 lakhs excluding publicity cost and the payment for the artistes. It took over three months to complete the shooting of this movie.
The movie is set amidst the picturesque Wah Rilang, Wah Umngi, Wah Umngot, Wah Ranikor, Nongkhnum beach, Mawkyrwat, Sohra, Laitlum, Dawki, Shillong Bypass, Smit, and Golf links etc.
Editing and voice dubbing will be completed by January 2016, Daniel informed, adding that the movie will have English subtitles and will be release in April/ May 2016.
